Vice Ministry of Supreme Social Happiness

In the role playing gameParanoia, set in the future where an insane all-powerful computer runs a domed city, fun and happiness are mandatory. In the game, one player can be assigned the mandatory bonus duty of being the Happiness Officer. Disturbingly, this hyperbole of the game will soon become reality: Venezuelan President/Dictator Nicolas Maduro is create a Vice Ministry of Supreme Social Happiness.

This is the “beating will continue until moral improves” quip made manifest:

“Oil-rich Venezuela is chronically short of basic goods and medical supplies. Annual inflation is running officially at near 50 percent and the U.S. dollar now fetches more than seven times the official rate on the black market.

“In downtown Caracas, fruit vendor Victor Rey said he’s now waiting for Maduro to create a vice ministry of beer.

“‘That would make me, and all the drunks, happy,’ he said.

“…

“Housewife Liliana Alfonzo, 31, said that instead of a Supreme Happiness agency she’d prefer being able to get milk and toilet paper, which disappear off store shelves minutes after arriving at stores.”

These citizens ought to be careful, lest friend computer President finds out, and corrects the situation with a Happiness Patrol!